God Called Some to Be...Pastors: A Service of Ordination/Installation

This service was built on earlier examples, especially the ordination service of Cindy Holtrop, who serves on the staff of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship.

As with the preceding service of installation, this service of ordination draws significantly on baptism imagery.

—ERB

Gathering

Prelude

God's Greeting and Call to Worship

Grace and peace to you from him who is, who was, and who is to come. (Rev. 1:4-5)
Amen.

There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

Each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gifts.

Christ appointed some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers.

Christ did this to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, and for serving a broken world.

And so we come together in oneness of faith and in certain knowledge of the Son of God.

We come to bring glory to God only, and to celebrate his gracious gifts to all of us.

In this spirit of unity and service, let us worship God.

Song of Praise: "Holy God, We Praise Your Name" PsH 504, PH 460, RL 619, TH 103, TWC 3

Passing of the Peace

As God has greeted us, let us greet our neighbors, saying, "The peace of the Lord be with you."

Our Baptism, Our Calling

Remembering Our Baptism

In baptism, David Vroege was clothed with Christ, and is now called by God through the voice of the church to enter into the ministry of Word and Sacrament, announcing in word and deed the good news of Jesus Christ.

We celebrate God's particular call. We also remember with joy our common calling to serve Christ.

Indeed, ordination calls the whole church to renewed commitment and reminds all of us to bear gladly the yoke of Christ given in the covenant of baptism. Let us therefore reaffirm our baptismal vows, renouncing all that opposes God's rule and affirming the faith of the holy catholic church.

[As a visual reminder, water is poured into the font.]

Committing Ourselves to God

Trusting in the gracious mercy of God, do you turn from the ways of sin and renounce evil and its power in the world?

We do.

Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as your Lord and Savior, trusting in his grace and love?

We do.

Will you be Christ's faithful disciples, obeying his Word and showing his love?

We will, God helping us.

Affirmation of Faith

Let us affirm our faith:

We believe in God the Father... (Apostles' Creed)

Hymn: "We Know That Christ Is Raised" PsH 271, PH 495, RL 528

(sung to the tune sine nomine)

The Word

Sung Prayer for Understanding: "May We Hear with Understanding" (st. 2 of "Lord, We Hear Your Word with Gladness," SNC 89)

Old Testament Reading: Deuteronomy 8:6-18

New Testament Reading: 2 Timothy 2:1-13

Sermon: Remember

Hymn of Response: "Tell Your Children" PsH 588

Service of Ordination

Statement on Ordination and Installation

Laying on of Hands

Prayer

Response of Praise: "All Praise and Thanks to God" (st. 3 of "Now Thank We All Our God," PsH 454)

Charge to the Pastor

Charge to the Congregation

Sung Prayer: "God the Spirit, Guide and Guardian" (see p. 42)

Words of Welcome

Sending

Song of Commitment: "Lord, Speak to Me That I May Speak" PsH 528, PH 426, RL 436, TH 561, TWC 574

God's Blessing

Silent Reflection

Postlude

Excerpt

The Blessing

The first official act that an ordained person does as a representative of God is to pronounce the blessing. We know well the blessing given to Aaron in Numbers 6. In the final verse of that chapter, God says, "So they will put my name on the Israelites and I will bless them."

In the waters of baptism, God claims us and we are united with Christ in his death and resurrection. In the blessing, God puts his name on us and blesses us. Revelation 22 envisions the saints of God serving the Lamb. "They will see his face and his name will be on their foreheads."

People of God, receive the Lord's blessing:
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face to shine upon you and
be gracious to you.
The Lord turn his face toward you and give
you peace.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit.
Amen.

—Cindy Holtrop

 

A Commissioning Litany

The voice of the Lord came to Samuel:

And he replied, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." (1 Sam. 3:10)

The voice of the Lord said to Isaiah: "Whom shall
I send, and who will go for me?"

And he replied, "Here am I. Send me."
(Arts 8:30-31)

The voice of the Lord comes to us: "Lift up your eyes. Look, the fields are ripe for harvest."

And we say, "Let us gather the harvest so that both sower and reaper may be glad together. (John 4:35)

The voice of the Lord says: "This saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps.' I send you to
reap what others have sown. They have worked hard and you have entered into their labor." (John 4:36-38)

Hymn of Dedication: "Here J Am, Lord" SNC 268

—Martin Benekhuysen.

Reformed Worship 67 © March 2003 Worship Ministries of the Christian Reformed Church. Used by permission.